Where's Me Snorkel?

Glasgow Tigers v Somerset Rebels - Meeting Abandoned after seven heats.

We all knew there was the odd shower around, we all knew the weather had been changeable, but with the sun splitting the skies from lunchtime onwards, nobody really thought this one would be a rain-off.

I have to admit that I had a slight feeling of foreboding as I arrived at Ashfield. To the north and east there were some pretty unpleasant looking clouds, but the assumption was that they were heading away from the ground. There was also that dog-leg of raincloud showing on the BBC weather map from 3pm onwards, but if I put off going to the speedway because the met office said there was a bit of rain about, I'd never leave the house on a Sunday.

Isn't optomism a wonderful thing?

Anyway, 5pm arrived and so did the thin stream of cloud rolling off the campsie hills. With the meeting running at a fairly slow pace, what with Tom Brown banging himself about and needing attention, then Cory Gathercole getting a little too well aquainted with the kick-boards and catch fencing on the exit of the fourth bend, we had only reached heat six when the heavens opened and we all scuttled off to the bar for refreshment and shelter. Ten minutes of hailstones and torrential rain was followed by lighter rain for another half hour or so.

No chance!

The third and first bends were almost under water and the football pitch had flooded in places, leaving us with little to do but finish our drinks and head home.

The scorecard and a summary of the seven heats run can be found at the Unofficial Glasgow Speedway site, courtesy of Lioness.

Here are a few pics I took before it wazzed it down.

Emil Kramer
James Grieves, Mitchell Davey & Emil Kramer

Shane Parker from Corey Gathercole, Adam McKinna & Justin Sedgmen

Justin Sedgmen
James Grieves leads Jay Herne & Lee Smart through bends 3 & 4


Josh Grajczonek chases down Emil Kramer

Lee Smart

Steve Johnston

Mitchell Davey gets it a little wrong as he tries to stay in touch with Steve Johnston.

Washout!

The Tigers mascot seems to have had his Weetabix! He's never usually that energetic........... ;) The visiting primary school kids loved him and I think it partly made up for the disappointment of not seeing much speedway. Hope to see the youngsters back again for a full meeting.

Lee Dicken
William Lawson
Mitchell Davey chases Lee Smethills
Adam McKinna

It took one heat to make me realise this one wasn't going to get very far. A glorious saturday had given way to a wet, miserable sunday and the speedway Gods decided to turn their backs on Glasgow for the first time since March. It's been a good innings I suppose.................

Two heats were run. In the first William Lawson disappeared into the distance, with Lee Dicken grabbing 2nd place on the 2nd bend of the 1st lap. It all looked to be in hand and then Lee dropped it coming past the pits on the third lap. Joel Parsons was trundling a lap down at this point, though Ricky Ashworth was close enough to take 2nd. The lights then came on very late and Lee was excluded. There was plenty of conjecture afterwards as to who should have been excluded, but I must admit at the time my first response was one of confusion. Why stop the heat if Lee was back under way?

Heat 2 had it's drama too. Guest Tiger Adam McKinna broke the tapes and had to start from 15m. In the re-run, it was Lee Smethills who got the jump, with Mitchell Davey in pursuit. In the end Mitchell sensibly settled for a comfy 2nd in 'orrible conditions, with McKinna sliding past Ben Hopwood to take 3rd place for another shared heat.

Anders Andersen managed a quick trundle round to the tapes before being called back and the innevitable slide towards a call off got underway. Someone was rain-dancing their little arse off somewhere, because there seemed to be no let up in the constant drizzle, despite assurances from the Met Office (or was it someone on a hill sticking their finger in the air?) that the rain would stop at 4pm. So, it was all back to the bar for a few drinks and some prayers for the good weather to return next weekend for the Workington match.

Cheers!